In November, Arizona voters will decide whether expanding the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account program makes sense. It was originally started to help the parents of disabled children, foster children, or parents who are active military. It evolved, with little controversy, to include adopted children, children attending D/F rated schools, and those in Native American communities. About 5,000 children are now using the scholarships to attend private schools or be home-schooled, if they don’t feel the public school system is right for their special, unique needs.

Nearly 200 schools statewide received either a D or F grade under the state’s new school rating system. Traditional K-8 schools accounted for the majority of schools on notice with 153 receiving D grades and 31 receiving Fs. Meanwhile, a dozen 9-12 schools received Ds and four others received Fs.

Another disagreement between the State Board of Education and the Department of Education led by Diane Douglas could leave children in failing schools without a plan to improve their reading.

The Arizona Department of Education is expecting the initial achievement test tied to the Common Core learning standards to be a disaster.

Arizona public schools would get a one-year freeze on consequences from a new high-stakes learning test under legislation the state Department of Education plans to offer during the next session.

Taking a page from higher education, Gov. Jan Brewer announced today she wants to install a system in which public schools would earn some of their funding based on student achievement.